The CEO of the Ukrainian industrial company INTERPIPE, Luca Zanotti, made a statement regarding the need to free Ukraine from steel quotas within the framework of the new trade policy of the European Union.
This is reported by Finway
Position of the Ukrainian side on quotas
During a video interview for the American publication Politico, Luca Zanotti emphasized that Ukraine deserves preferential trade conditions with the EU. He reminded that three key institutions of the European Union agreed on the special status of Ukraine as a country that suffered full-scale aggression from Russia in 2022.
“We are seeking not only diplomacy,” he said during the video interview with the American publication Politico, reminding that three main institutions of the European Union agreed that Ukraine is a special case entitled to trade preferences after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
According to Zanotti, official EU documents contain wording stating that Ukraine is in a “exceptional and urgent security situation,” which justifies the need for a special status in trade relations.
Consequences of imposing restrictions on Ukraine
The head of INTERPIPE emphasized that there are political forces in Europe that seek to change the spirit and letter of laws supporting Ukraine. He noted that the introduction of quotas on Ukrainian steel, considering the 80% reduction in production compared to the pre-war period, would be a “very difficult step backward” for the country’s economy.
It is worth reminding that starting from July 1, the European Union plans to increase the import duty on steel to 50%. At the same time, the quota for duty-free import of steel will be almost halved, significantly limiting the export opportunities of Ukrainian producers.